JOSEPHITE SPIRITUALITY  SEEDS

Monthly publication of the International Josephite-Marellian Center. May 2023

1.   Welcoming

2. Opening Prayer

3. Theme of the Month:

LIKE JOSEPH, LET US ALWAYS BE READY TO SERVE AND CARE

         “It is necessary to look at Saint Joseph for our own inspirations, he who was the first on earth to take care of the interests of Jesus; he cared for him as a child, protected him as a boy, fathered him for the first thirty years of his life on earth.” (Saint Joseph Marello, bishop and founder).

         We continue to study the precious guidelines of Pope Francis to help us answer an important question: God calls us to “build a great human family united in love”, but how to do this in practice?

7) Saint Joseph, the one who is always ready to serve and care.

         In his message for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis concludes his remarks on Saint Joseph, speaking of his readiness to say yes to God’s call and to place himself at the service of Mary and Jesus, and affirming that his yes “concretizes itself in prompt service and loving care”. (Message from Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. April 25, 2021).

         Let us listen to Pope Francis:

         “We could say that this was the outstretched hand of our heavenly Father reaching out to his Son on earth. Joseph cannot fail to be a model for all vocations, called to be the ever-active hands of the Father, outstretched to his children.

         “I like to think, then, of Saint Joseph, the protector of Jesus and of the Church, as the protector of vocations. In fact, from his willingness to serve comes his concern to protect. The Gospel tells us that “Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night” (Mt 2:14), thus revealing his prompt concern for the good of his family. He wasted no time fretting over things he could not control, in order to give full attention to those entrusted to his care. Such thoughtful concern is the sign of a true vocation, the testimony of a life touched by the love of God. What a beautiful example of Christian life we give when we refuse to pursue our ambitions or indulge in our illusions, but instead care for what the Lord has entrusted to us through the Church! God then pours out his Spirit and creativity upon us; he works wonders in us, as he did in Joseph.”

(Message from Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Prayer

for Vocations. April 25, 2021)

         As we learned from Joseph, one must serve promptly and with loving care. This exhortation by Pope Francis reminds us of the very important teachings of two saints of the Church: Saint Joseph Marello and Saint John Paul II. Let’s see:

 “It is necessary to look at Saint Joseph for our own inspirations, he who was the first on earth to take care of the interests of Jesus; he cared for him as a child, protected him as a boy, fathered him for the first thirty years of his life on earth.” (Saint Joseph Marello, bishop and founder).

 “Inspired by the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church from the earliest centuries stressed that just as St. Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing, he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, that is, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model”. (Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, 1. Saint John Paul II, Pope)

 “I am convinced that by reflection upon the way that Mary’s spouse shared in the divine mystery, the Church – on the road towards the future with all of humanity – will be enabled to discover ever anew her own identity within this redemptive plan, which is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation.

“This is precisely the mystery in which Joseph of Nazareth “shared” like no other human being except Mary, the Mother of the Incarnate Word. He shared in it with her; he was involved in the same salvific event; he was the guardian of the same love, through the power of which the eternal Father “destined us to be his sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:5)”.

 (Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, 1. Saint John Paul II, Pope)

         As Saint Joseph Marello, Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis teach us, we have a lot to learn from the example of Saint Joseph:

 It is necessary to learn from Saint Joseph that availability to serve derives from care in keeping.

 It is necessary to learn from St. Joseph to have as a priority in life the commitment to take care of the interests of Jesus.

 It is necessary to learn from Saint Joseph that attentive and solicitous care for vocations and those called to is a sign of a fulfilled vocation.

 It is necessary to learn from Saint Joseph that attentive and solicitous care is the witness of a life touched by the love of God.

 It is necessary to learn from Saint Joseph: “what a beautiful example of Christian life we offer when we do not obstinately follow our ambitions or allow ourselves to be paralyzed by our nostalgia, but take care of what the Lord entrusts to us, through the Church!”

 It is necessary to learn from Saint Joseph that, on the one who is always ready to serve and care, God pours out his Spirit, his creativity”, and through him “performs wonders, as in Joseph”.

         Let us pray to Saint Joseph to help us understand how important it is to always be ready to serve and to take care of Jesus’ interests.

4. Reflection and Sharing

         Share on the teachings of Pope Francis, Saint Joseph Marello and Saint John Paul II, contained in this “Josephite Spirituality Seeds”.

5. Commitment of the Month

         Actively participate in Saint Joseph the Worker’s Day, which we celebrate on the 1st of May.

6. Final Prayer.